Search - Articles

you've chosen for your patio to a depth of 15cm to allow room for the hardcore, mortar and paving slabs. Lay 5cm - 8cms of hardcore, using a rake to distribute it and even out any bumps.Use a wacker plate to compact and level the hardcore. It

Last summer I discovered a twining, tender climber called Lophospermum, or lofos. I bought two varieties, 'Burgundy Falls' and 'Summer Cream' (both pictured left), as plug plants from a mail-order seed company. I grew my lofos under cover, in 7.5-10

I'm always looking for plants that make an impact - things that will grab the attention and put on a good show. Seasonal bedding and bulbs are always popular, but many shrubs also grow well in patio pots.Over the years I've tried all sorts, from

A wide variety of pots have graced my patio all summer, hosting a wide and varied range of plants from agapanthus and phormium to miscanthus, eucomis, pelargoniums, and an assortment of colourful bedding - to name but a few.I love growing things

This year I'm determined to only grow one variety of tomato. This is because my garden was overrun with tomato plants last year and I couldn't get onto my patio for growing bags and poorly staked cordons. So 2011 will see a more streamlined effort

I can't be the only one looking for foolproof plants to brighten the patio during summer, but it's always nice to try something a little different too.Traditional summer bedding has its place, but it does demand regular attention.Daily watering

this morning as I left the flat. The leaves of my plants look like jigsaw puzzle pieces, and I frequently sit at the table at night, watching the adults climb to the top of my patio windows and 'drop' into my large pots to do their worst.Despite the apparent

that produce one stem carrying one flower at the top, when you can grow varieties with many flowers per stem?I'm not sure why multi-headed tulips aren't more widely grown, as I've found their performance outstanding in patio pots. One of my favourites is a

the plastic after you've finished spraying.Glass jarsCardSticky-backed plasticGlass-frosting sprayTea lightsall year round20 minutesMake a template out of card and use it to draw on the reverse side of the sticky-backed plastic. Cut out the plastic shapes

the end section as you will need to use it later.Make a sloping roof by measuring 3cm down from the top front corner of each side of the box and drawing a straight line from there to the top back corner. Cut along each line, using a handsaw.Cut off two 1.5